Help for Furloughed Workers

Furloughed workers who live in North Carolina can seek help with making their mortgage payments through the Raleigh Area Development Authority (RADA).

RADA is a Raleigh-based, HUD-approved housing counseling agency offering the Mortgage Payment Program in association with the NC Housing Finance Agency, using funds from the U.S. Treasury.​Effective October 1, 2013, the program was expanded to offer mortgage payment assistance to qualified veterans as well as to furloughed workers. “We are also excited to be able to give assistance to the many workers who find their incomes reduced because of a furlough at their workplace.” said Lekesha Shaw, Director of Consumer Counseling Programs at RADA.

18 Months of Stop and Go Help is Available to Furloughed Workers

Furloughed workers who have a Letter of Furlough from their current employer and who meet other criteria, may get help in one of three ways:

Furloughed workers may be eligible for up to $36,000 of mortgage payment assistance (over an 18 month period) on a “stop and go” basis to cover their monthly mortgage payments while they are on furlough.

Workers who are no longer on furlough but are still behind on their mortgage payments may qualify for one-time assistance (up to $36,000) to bring their mortgages current.

Workers who are no longer on furlough may also be eligible for up to $30,000 under theSecond Mortgage Refinance Program to pay off a second mortgage if their second mortgage causes their monthly housing payment to be unaffordable.

Help is Provided as a Loan

The Mortgage Payment Program provides help in the form of a deferred-payment, zero-percent interest loan that is secured by a deed of trust on the home. The loan is completely forgiven if the homeowner remains in the home for 10 years and partially forgiven if the homeowner remains in the home for more than 5 years after getting mortgage payment assistance.​​

​No Need to Exhaust Savings Before Applying

There are a number of eligibility requirements that must be met, but homeowners do NOT have to be behind on their mortgage payments to apply for assistance. Nor do they need to exhaust their savings or other assets before they can apply.​​

​To Learn More

To learn more or to apply for this program, call the Raleigh Area Development Authority at 919-807-8400 or go to www.rada-nc.org. RADA has offices in Raleigh and Smithfield and serves homeowners across the state, focusing on Durham, Edgecombe, Halifax, Johnston, Nash, Wake, and Wayne counties.​